Mary Bruno of Bruno Press has enlisted the help of print makers from around the world in her exhibit “End of Times 2: The Time is Now.”

Approximately 20 of the 40 participating artists will descend upon Central Minnesota April 22 to join Bruno in discussing their work, a commentary on today’s political climate, the environment and the general state of the world.

Some big name artists including Brad Vetter from Kentucky, Jason Wedekind of Colorado and Kim Ransdell of Indianapolis, will travel to participate in the show. Others from Sweden, the United Kingdom, Argentina and Amsterdam will have their work on display.

The exhibit juxtaposes work that was created and collected at the end of 2012 — the end of the Mayan calendar and what some anticipated as the apocalypse — with work collected just this year.

“ 'The Time is Now' sort of feels apocalyptic again politically and environmentally, the world feels a little scary,” Bruno said. “We may be a country divided but we want to bring people together and talk about things. Even though times may be dark we (artists) try to be hopeful and plod through complicated times.”

Though other letterpress artists have hosted Broadside Press Exchanges similar to this one, Bruno is organizing this particular project with an eye to the future. This show is already set to travel and is booked at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts in Minneapolis, Seattle’s School of Visual Concepts and Soo Visual Arts Center in Minneapolis.

When Bruno called for artists to participate, she asked them to each send 80 copies of their images. The extra copies were made possible by a high-quality paper donation from Neenah Paper Co. in Minnesota. Bruno and her team of interns at Bruno Press are working to package sets of the prints for each participating artist but there will be enough remaining for Bruno to allow the show to travel and sell some of the sets. Sales will raise funds to cover travel expenses for future shows.

Bruno will provide an exhibition catalog, supported by funding from local business sponsors, to people who aren’t able to purchase image sets. The catalog will showcase each printer and their works.

“The printing community is known for being really inclusive and open and they’ll tell you everything they know,” Bruno said. “We want to continue this very old school art form. I’m trying to bring art makers, art lovers and future art-makers together.”

She’s hoping her exhibit sparks some joint works between St. Cloud State University students and students at the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University.

“The power that could be generated by being integrated more and coming together more could be massive,” she said.

The show, reception and all gatherings related to the show are open to the public. From 4-6 p.m. April 22 there will be an open house at Bruno Press. At 6:30 p.m. the show opens at Clemens Library at the College of St. Benedict. At 7:30 p.m. there will be an informal panel talk of artists at the library. Following the panel discussion, around 8:45 p.m., artists and audience members will head to The Local Blend for an after-party.

The Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota.(Photo: Submitted photo)

'Requiem for the Living'

Members of the Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota have been working for more than six months to present “Requiem for the Living” in concert this weekend.

The 100 students of the youth chorale will come together to present the 40-minute, 64-page vocal score. Laurie Johnson, director of performing arts at the Paramount Center for the Arts, explains that the work is a prayer for requiem (rest) for the living after the loss of a loved one.

The initial idea to perform a large-scale work came from Johnsonm who grew up in an era where high school choral literature included the Brahm’s “German Requiem," Bach’s cantatas and “Chichester Psalms” and Mozart’s “Requiem.” With funding cuts, time constraints and lack of in-school orchestras, Johnson said, today’s choirs aren’t typically able to work on music of this magnitude. Technical High School and Apollo High School have come together to do a large-scale work within recent years but the opportunity is rare and requires special partnership.

Johnson reached out to Garrett Lathe, director of YCCM, with her idea and Lathe spent eight months choosing a work for the group to perform. He has led all the rehearsals and worked with students as well as the live orchestra leading up to this performance.

“It’s epic. It’s almost a cinematic score. It has a lot of gravitas. It’s just really meaningful,” Lathe said.

Garrett Lathe(Photo: Joel Butkowski)

The YCCM students have been working on the five-movement piece for months but just came together this week to work live with the orchestra.

“I can’t wait to see their faces when they hear the combined work,” Lathe said. “You can’t possibly fit into an MP3 or and iPod the significance or range of the combined piece. Technology doesn’t allow that visceral or combined experience that is singing with orchestra. It will be something that is the highlight of their high school career.”

The concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. April 21 and at 3 p.m. April 23 at the Paramount. Tickets are $16 for adults and $8 for children and are available online at www.paramountarts.org.

Neil Simon’s “I Ought to be in Pictures” is coming to the Pioneer Place on Fifth stage this weekend and for weekends to come.

The three-member cast tells the story of Herb, a Hollywood script writer, who opens his front door to find the daughter he walked out on 16 years ago in Hollywood ready for her first acting job.

Though the show is definitely Simon and has a 1970s vibe, it has a lot more heart than some of his other works.

“It’s got a lot of laughs but it’s got this wonderful, heartfelt story of family relationships and lost time. It’s something everyone can relate to,” said Dan Barth, owner/executive director of Pioneer Place Theatre Company. “It’s remarkably touching by the end.”

Raine Hokan plays the lead and said the pace of the show and the dialog make it a fun piece to work on.

“It’s so rapid, the jokes come so quickly you don’t even have time to think about them,” he said.

The show runs April 21-23, 27-30 and May 4-7. Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and start at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $22 for adults and $19 for students/seniors. Tickets are available at www.ppfive.com.

Sarah Colburn is a freelance writer who regularly previews Central Minnesota entertainment events for Up Next. Email her at fineartsstcloud@gmail.com.